Optical bar code scanner

Abstract: An optical bar code scanner has a laser for generating a coherent light beam, and a multifaceted rotatable mirror for scanning the beam. The scanned beam is reflected from at least three fixed mirrors. Two of these mirrors reflect the beam horizontally through a window (12) in the scanner housing. Another mirror reflects the beam upwards, through a hologram, within the housing. The hologram converts the horizontal scanning pattern of this upwardly-reflected beam into a vertical scan pattern, directed horizontally through the window.

Description: Background to the Invention This invention relates to optical bar code scanners for scanning bar code labels. Such scanners are typically used, for example, in retail check-out stations to read bar code labels on packages. The invention is particularly concerned with optical bar code scanners of the type in which the scanning optics are positioned to the side of the scanning area, rather than being positioned below the scanning area. One such side scanner is described, for example, in US Patent No 4652732. The side scanner described in the above-mentioned patent produces three scanning light beams directed into the scanning area. Two of these beams are scanned in a generally horizontal direction and the other beam is scanned in a generally vertical direction. The vertical scan lies between the two horizontal scans. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical scanner, compared with the above-mentioned patent. Summary of the Invention According to the invention bar code scanning apparatus comprises: (a) a housing having an optically transmissive window in a side wall of the housing, said window defining a scanning region horizontally adjacent to said window; (b) a light source within said housing, for generating a coherent beam of light; (c) scanning means mounted within said housing for deflecting said beam of light to produce a scanning beam of light which traces a scan pattern comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart scan lines; (d) first, second and third redirection means mounted within said housing, for redirecting said scanning beam of light to produce first, second and third output beams of light which respectively trace first, second and third scan patterns each comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart scan lines, the scan lines of said first and second scan patterns being oriented substantially horizontally and the scan lines of said third scan pattern being oriented substantially vertically; and (e) means for detecting light reflected back through said window from a bar code being scanned within said scanning region; characterised in that (f) the scan lines of said third scan pattern enter said scanning region through said window to one side of and not between the scan lines of said first and second scan patterns; (g) each of said first and second redirection means comprises only a single mirror; and (h) said third redirection means comprises only a single mirror and a single holographic element. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side view of an optical scanner in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a partially cut-away front view of the scanner. Figure 3 is partially cut-away top view of the scanner. Figure 4 shows the sets of scan patterns produced by the scanner. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention An optical scanner in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to the Figures 1 to 3, the scanner comprises a housing 10 which holds the optical scanning and detection components for the scanner. In use, the housing is mounted in a checkstand counter surface 11. The housing 10 has an optically transparent window 12 at one side, inclined at approximately 65° to the horizontal. The window 12 faces a scanning zone 14 above the counter surface 11. As will be described, the scanner produces multiple scanning beams which pass through the window 12 to strike any objects in the scanning zone 14. Light scattered from the objects passes back through the window 12 and is detected by detection components of the scanner. The optical scanning components comprise a six-sided prism 16 which in operation is rotated about its axis by means of an electric motor 18. The axis of the prism is inclined at 30° to the vertical. The six outer faces 20 of the prism are mirrored. Each of the faces is inclined at a different angle to the axis of the prism. A laser diode 22 produces a beam r1 which passes undeflected through a hole in the centre of a collection lens (or mirror) 24, and hits one of the mirrored faces 20 of the prism to produce a reflected beam r2. As the prism rotates, the reflected beam r2 scans across each of four fixed mirrors 30, 32, 34, 36 in turn. Because the six mirrored faces of the prism 20 are at different angles, it can be seen that the beams reflected from each fixed mirror follow a scan pattern comprising a set of six parallel scan lines during each revolution of the prism 16. The first three fixed mirrors 30, 32, 34 are angled such that the reflected beams r3 from these mirrors pass through the window 12 into the scanning zone 14 in a generally horizontal direction. The fourth fixed mirror 36 is angled so as to produce a set of reflected beams r4 in an upward direction, into a hologram window 40 positioned under the window 12 and inclined at approximately 55° to the horizontal. It can be seen that the beams r4 strike the hologram window 40 at varying angles along the path of each scan. The hologram window 40 acts as a diffractive lens to deflect the beam r4 to produce a set of beams r5 directed into the scanning zone 14. The hologram is designed to deflect the beams by varying amounts along its length, so that the beams r5 are all substantially horizontal. The hologram window 40 consists of two halves: a left half 42 and a right half 44. The left half 42 is designed to diffract the beams approximately 15° to the right, while the right half 44 diffracts the beams approximately 15° to the left. Referring now to Figure 4, this shows the resultant scan patterns of the beams in a vertical plane as they exit the window 12 and enter the scanning zone 14, as viewed from the scanner 10. The scan patterns consist of four sets of six scan lines, as follows: 1) Six substantially horizontal scan lines 54, produced by the beam r3 reflected from the mirror 30. As shown, each of these scan lines 54 is inclined at a small angle relative to the horizontal. 2) Six substantially horizontal scan lines 52, produced by the beam r3 reflected from the mirror 32. Each of these scan lines is inclined at a small angle relative to the horizontal. 3) Six substantially horizontal scan lines 50, produced by the beam r3 reflected from the mirror 34. Each of these scan lines is inclined at a small angle relative to the horizontal. 4) Six substantially vertical scan lines 56, produced by the beam r5 reflected from the mirror 36, after passing through the hologram 40. Three of these scan lines are inclined at approximately 15° down to the right relative to the vertical, and the other three are inclined at approximately 15° down to the left relative to the vertical. It should be noted that the substantially horizontal sets of scan lines 50, 52, 54 all overlap each other, but the substantially vertical scan lines 56 enter the scanning zone to one side of the substantially horizontal sets of scan lines 50, 52, 54. It has been found that this arrangement in which vertical scan lines are juxtaposed to one side of the horizontal scan lines is more efficient than conventional arrangements in which vertical scan lines overlap horizontal scan lines. Light scattered from objects in the scanning zone passes back through the window, along the reverse optical path, to the collector lens 24 (or mirror), which focuses the light on to an optical detector (not shown). In a modified form of the scanner described above, the mirrors 30 and 34 are turned towards each other more compared with Figures 1-3, so that each scan pattern passes through the hologram 40 (now modified to be larger and to cover most of the window 12) and is diffracted by it. The hologram 40 is designed to diffract the beams back towards the centre line. It will be appreciated that the bar code scanner described above is merely an example and that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims: Bar code scanning apparatus comprising: (a) a housing (10) having an optically transmissive window (12) in a side wall of the housing, said window defining a scanning region (14) horizontally adjacent to said window; (b) a light source (22) within said housing, for generating a coherent beam of light (rl); (c) scanning means (20) mounted within said housing for deflecting said beam of light (rl) to produce a scanning beam of light (r2) which traces a scan pattern comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart scan lines; (d) first, second and third redirection means (30; 32; 36, 40) mounted within said housing, for redirecting said scanning beam of light (r2) to produce first, second and third output beams of light (r3, -, r5) which respectively trace first, second and third scan patterns (50, 52, 56), each comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart scan lines, the scan lines of said first and second scan patterns (50, 52) being oriented substantially horizontally and the scan lines of said third scan pattern (56) being oriented substantially vertically; and (e) means (24) for detecting light reflected back through said window from a bar code being scanned within said scanning region; characterised in that (f) the scan lines of said third scan pattern (56) enter said scanning region (14) through said window (12) to one side of and not between the scan lines of said first and second scan patterns (50, 52); (g) each of said first and second redirection means (30,32) comprises only a single mirror; and (h) said third redirection means (36,40) comprises only a single mirror (36) and a single holographic element (40). Bar code scanning apparatus according to Claim 1 further including fourth redirection means (34) mounted within said housing for redirecting said scanning beam of light (r2) to produce a fourth output beam of light which traces a fourth scan pattern (54), comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart scan lines, the scan lines of said fourth scan pattern (54) being oriented substantially horizontally, and said fourth redirection means (34) comprising only a single mirror. Bar code scanning apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said first, second and fourth scan patterns (50, 52, 54) are superimposed on each other in said scanning region (14).

Inventors: EDLER PETER ALAN, EDLER, PETER ALAN
Applicants: INT COMPUTERS LTD, INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G06K7
IPC codes: G02B5, G02B26, G06K7